Support for presser-irons.



M. EPSTEIN.

SUPPORT FOR PRESSER IRONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, I918.

1 300,939, Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mmv roe M54173? A TTOR/VEYS M. EPSTEIN.

SUPPORT FOR PRESSER IRONS.

ABPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, '91s.

- Patented A p'r. 15, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES wwfiw wen/roe Niki? By Z0 ATTOHNY8 M. EPSTEIN.

SUPPORLFOR PRESSER IRONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18. 1918.

Patented Apr. 15,1919.

WITNESSES A TTORNEYS M. EPSTEIN.

SUPPORT FOR PRESSER IRONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 19H]. I 1,300,939. Patented Ap1'215, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES m: uomus Prsns ca. Pmaraurha. wsnm-zram powermeans sufficient to hoist the iron far UNITED STATES my MOSHEH EPSTEIN', OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

sUrroIvr' Eon rnnssnn-moivs.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOSHEH Ers'rnm, a citizen of the/United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Support for Presser-Irons, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

This invention relates to apparatus of the character disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States issued to Jerome Ratner, on the 28th day of November, 1916, No. 1,206,466, and of which Letters Patent I am now the sole owner.

Whereas in the previously patented apparatus it was necessary for the operator to lift the presser iron manually and, considering the weight of the iron which isapproximately eighteen pounds in ordinary practice, very much labor was necessarily entailed unless the spring tending to lift the iron were made strong enough to assist in this operation, but in which event a considerableportion of the necessary weight of the iron was neutralized by the spring. Among the objects, therefore, of this invention is to provide power means to lift the iron whereby the operator is relieved from such necessity, means being provided to practically automatically render the power lifting means operative.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support for a presser iron of such a character that there is provided in connection therewith automatically operating enough to clear the work so that the iron may be transported laterally or out of the way for change or readjustment of the work or garment to be operated upon, means furthermore being provided to relieve the power means from its function while the iron is held by positive means in its elevated position.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists in the arrange ment and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same elevated or idle position.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d -A .15 1919 Application filed January 18, 1918. Serial No. 212,455

' tion for the purpose of indicating the form of a groove therein. 7 Fig. 3 1s adetail' view indicating the relat1on of the shank to the supporting dog and switch pin while the device is'in the position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view .on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3'.

Fig. 5 is a view of the same parts as are shown in Fig. 3 indicating the shank in its Fig. 6"is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. g

Fig. 7 is a view the relative position of the movable parts at of the same parts showing the moment that the switch is closed and the I iron is being hoisted.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. V

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the switch mechanism in its relation to the shank, the iron'and shank being'hoisted.

F ig..11 is a furthermodification.

Fig. 12 is a still further modification.

13 is armodi'fication in which the power mean-s consists of a strong coil spring which replaces the electromagneticor solenoid power means of the previously described'forms. I

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectionaldetail view of the principal part of Fig. 13, but with the shank turned through an angle. of 90 degrees and elevated by the spring motor or lifting device into idle position.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal the line 15-15 of Fig. 13'. I

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14; g

Fig. 17 is a sectional detail on the line 17-17 of Fig. 14;and I Fig. 18 is a detail view of a further modification.

Referring drawings, I

now more particularly to the sectional detail on I of heavy pressingiron having a handle 21 which through a bail 22 and universal ]0111t 23 is connected to a shank 24 adaptedto reciprocate in a sleeve 25 and turn through a portion of a circule around theaxls there=" 7 29 .tothe iframeofa trolley 30 movable by anti friction means alongan overhead rail vor track31 in anmann'er-b roadly the same as in the patent above referred to so that the iron may bemanipulated. with convenience over the work or Long of the way when the workis to be .re-adjus ed. 3 In this connection i it is to be noted that the rail 31 maybe, of

any desired length even, though the drawings indicate the same as relatively short.

.A circuit carryingcord 32 leads to the sole- 'noid 'andfthrough a switch casing 33 indicated as carried upon the side ofthe sleeve 25. As indicated ibestin Fig. 2one branch 32 of the circuit wiregis connected to a binding post34, while the other'branch 32? leads .to the solenoid 27 and thence through a branch '32 back to the, main line. Any suit.- able source ofenergy, not shown, may be used to supply power to the solenoid when the branches 32 and 32 'are connected which maybe donexby any convenient and easily controllable means. p

Referring again to Fig. 2 a preferred means for controlling the circuit comprises a spring contact 35 having one ,endsecured ,to the binding post 36 from which'the branch 32 leadslwhile the free end .of the spring 35 has a resilient tendency to lie in spaced position within the casing 33 from :the binding post34. See Figs. 3 and 5.- When in this position the circuit is broken between the binding osts '34 and 36. Z

37 indicates a switch pin projecting inwardly through ahole 38 formediradially through one wall ofthersleevev25 for oooperationuwith 'the'vshan'k 24; This pin is urged inwardly by virtue of the spring 35 The shank 24 isprovided with an 'L-shaped groove .38 having a horizontal portion 39 and a vertical portion40. The horizontal portion 39 is indicated as being at least a quarter circle in extent, and the vertical portion is as long as it is required to lift the iron 20 to clear it above the work. When the switch pin 37 bears upon the outer cylindrical surface of the shank it forces the free end of the spring 35 into engage-- ment with the bindingflpost 34closing the circuit as in Figs. 2 and '7,

Forthe purpose of-explaining the nature and operationofthe contact or switchcontrolling devices I will now explain that with theiiron in voperating position as shown the iron isthus hoisted free it may eas ly be given an impulse so as to v r upperend'o'f thevertical portion 40 of the L -shaped groove, in which position the contact" spring 35 is spaced from the binding post 34. This vertical 1 portion 40 of the groove may be somewhat wider than the diameter of the ,pin 37, if desired, for the,

purpose of providing for a slight lateral vibration or oscillation of their-on in. practice. At'the-upper end-of the vertical groove 40 there is provided a camshoulder 41 leading circumferentially or laterally from the groove 40 above and parallel to the horizontal porti0n,39.. See Fig. 8. If the operatori therefore, gives the iron and shank a partial; rotation; ina counter clock-wise directlon as indicated by the arrow on Fig.

3 the pin 37 .wgillfbe caused to ride up the cain face 41 sov as to bear upon theouter cylindrical surface of the shank, causing the closing of the circuit with the immediate result that the now: energized solenoid will lift the iron into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At this time the spring pressed holding dog 42 will snap into a notch 43 formed in the shank and indicated ,as located above the -L'shaped groove 38., fThisnotch431has'a fiat topancl preferably a flat side while the opposite side is cam shaped as indicated in F ig. 4. The

- purposeof this dog 42 is to sustain the weight of the shank and parts-suspended therefrom when the iron'islin its idlep o'si tion.) It will be observed that vl1en the shank and iron are hoisted inthe direction of the arrow on Figfj'? bringing the notch 43 into positionfor the holding dog to snap into it, the switchpin 37 will: I horizontal portion 39" of the groove 38,

drop into the 7 Y thereby breaking the circuit the spring 35. Fig. 5 indicates this condition.i -VVheu from the work ove with its supporting-trolley along'the rail 31 so as not to obstruct the operators work of readjusting "the fabric being pressed. NYhen it is desired to bring the iron back to its'position above the work' 'the operator gives the iron and sha-nk a partial rotation in a clock wise direction causing the dog 4 2 to ride upfovf ljthe cam face 43 of I the'notch 43 and bringing theswitch pin 3,?

into the vertical portion 40 of thegroove',

thus allowin'g'the iron to drop by gravity upon the work. It will thus be seen that thesolenoid is energizedonly for the pur pose of lifting the iron and as soon'as this rec Figs. 9 and 10 the rail 31 is pivoted at 44 at one end while the core 28 of the solenoid 27 is loosely connected at 45 to the other end of the rail. In the idle or dead position of the solenoid the rail is held in horizontal position so that the trolley 30 may move in either direction along the same with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the operator. The wires 32 and 32 are associated with the switch casing 33 in practically the same manner as already described, there being provided a switch pin 37 for the purpose of automatically controlling the making and breaking of the circuit. L

The shank 24 contractile spring is connected by means of a 46 to the upper portion of the sleeve 25. This spring is of moderate strength and serves to prevent the dropping of the iron and shank downward with respect to the sleeve under normal con ditions. The switch pin 37 projects into a notch 47, as shown in Fig. 9, the circuit thus being broken 1 and the-iron being in operating position. To lift the iron the operator gives the iron and shank a partial turn causing the switch pin to ride up at one end of the notch upon the outer cylindrical surface of the shank closing the circuit and thereby causing the hoisting of the iron due to the operation of the solenoid which swings the rail 31 into the dotted line position in Fig. 9. After this the trolley and its load will roll automatically toward the pivot 44 and upon the lift or upwardly projecting edge portion 31 of the rail. When the iron and shank are turned again in the opposite direction so that the switch pin 37 can drop into the notch 47 the circuit will be broken, but the trolley resting at this time upon the lift 31 will hold the iron elevated by virtue of the force of the spring 46.

In Figs. 11 and 12 the circuit through the solenoid wire 32 is controlled by a thumb pressed switch 35 on or adjacent to the handle 21 of the iron 20. The solenoid 27 is similar in its action and location to the solenoid 27 and is connected to the free end of the movable rail 31 pivoted at 44 at the opposite end. The trolley 30 operates along the rail 31 and lift 31 thereof in practically the same manner as above described in connection with Fig. 9. In this form of the invention it is contemplated that the lift 31 shall be sufficient to hold the iron elevated above the work while the solenoid is dead. The shank 24 may be swiveled for free rotation in the sleeve 25 so that the circuit may be'closed through the solenoid at any time by depressing the switchbutton 35 and which obviously will be broken again on release of the switch button.

In Fig. 12 the solenoid 27 is supported upon or from the trolley 30 and so acts diwhen the operator removes his thumb from the switch button. After the iron is elevated in this manner the operator by giving a slight impulse thereto will cause the trolley to roll toward the pivot 44 and in so doing the rail 31 will be tilted upward by means of a coil spring 48 of moderate strength, such strength being suliicient to keep the free end of the rail elevated while the weight is near the pivot but which will not materially affect the mass of the iron when in operating position. The operator, however, on grasping the iron to return it to operating position from thedotted line position may do so readily even though the rail is slightly upwardly inclined when he begins the return movement of the trolley and iron. I

Referring now to the last modification in Figs. 13 to 17, the rail 31 is indicated the same as in Fig. 12, being supported resiliently at its free end by means of the spring 48. The iron 20 is similar so far as its construction and mounting are concerned to the form shown in Fig. 1. The shank 24, however, has a telescopic joint 49 with an auxiliary shank 50. This telescopic joint 49 provides for a slight vertical movement of the shank 50 with respect to the notched shank as may be necessary in practice to accommodate the iron to different thicknesses of cloth. The notches 51 and 52 are adapted to cooperate with a pair of dogs 53 and 54 respectively located on opposite'sides of the sleeve 25, 'while the notches are indicated as arranged at a quarter turn apart'circumferentially of the shank 24 but one in a horizontal plane above the other. The notch 51 accommodates the dog 53 for the purpose of holding the iron and connected shanks in elevated position, the top of the notch being flat for this purpose. At least one side, however, of the notch is beveled or camshaped as indicated at 51 so that when the shank is rotated the spring pressed dog 53 will be wiped out of the notch so as to bear against the smooth outer cylindrical surface of the shank whereby the dog is released from holding position. The notch 52 has a flat lower end which cooperates with the spring pressed dog 54 to hold the shank 24 down. This notch 52 has a camshaped side or edge 52 for the purpose of releasing the dog on a quarter turn of the shank. These releasing movements will be understood from F igs. 15 and 16. i

The motor or power means adapted to automaticallylift the iron in this form of the invention consistsof a strong coil spring 55 having oneend secured" adjacent to the trolley and the lower end-secured'to the upper end of the shank 24, the spring being of the contractile type. The power, of the spring may be suflicient to hoist the load suspended therefrom or if desired it may be approximately equal to the task imposed upon it so that the weight of theiron and connecting parts will be practically counter balanced. When, however, the spring is contracted as in Fig. 14 it is relieved from supporting the Weight by virtue of-the dog 53. When the operator desires to bring the operating position, he ro-- iron back into tates'theiron and shanks through a quarter turn in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 16, bringing the notch 52 over the dog 54. He then draws directly downward upon the iron until the dog54 snaps into the notch 52. This action stores full power in the spring 55, but whilethis power is intended to be sufficient to lift the iron it has no effect upon the iron to interfere with its proper pressing functions so long as the the rotation of the iron and the shank 50 will cause the rotation of the notched shank forthe purposes above indicated.

In Fig. 1 in place of the bail 22 connectedv directly to the handle 21 I provide a bracket 22 to which the lifting devices are connected through a knuckle or head 23, but so designed that more freedom is provided for the handle. The lower portion of the bracket has a hook 22 whichengages over a flange 20" of theiron while an ad justable clip 22 engages beneath the other sideof the flange and so locked in place by means of a thumb nut '22. V

The detail of Fig. 18 provides a spring 48"- strong enough to lift the bar 31 at any timeif the catch 57 is withdrawn from the Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddre Washington, D. G.

From Fig. 17 it will be noted that end of it. This catch is spring operated and so snaps over the end of the bar when the Vbar-1s drawn downward against the force of the spring. The catch, however,

may comprise a core of a solenoid58 arthe parts mounted thereon as already described.

In several of the figures, notably Figs. 3', 5, and 7, there is indicated a safety stop in the nature of aspring operated pin 59 which is adapted to engage against the shoulder of a. recess 60 formed inthe'shank 24, or its 2 equivalent. Therecess 60 isindicated as 6X' tending entirely around the shank, andhence the automati'c action. of the pin 59 by virtue ofra spring 61 surrounding it will always serve to preventany possibility of the shank dropping out off the sleeve 25, no

matter how awkward or. careless the operator may be. This safety stop has no bearing whatever upon the normal operation of the invention. I-claim: J 1. The herein describedsupporting means for presser' irons comprising an overhead member, a rigid member connected to the,

iron and movable upward and downward with respect, to the overhead member, elec tromagnetic'means to liftthe rigid member; and iron, and means to positively holdthe rigid member and iron in elevated position inpgapendently of the lifting means aforesai 2. The herein, described support for presser irons comprising an overhead support, a trolley movable thereon, a sleeve carried by the trolley, a; shank movable up and down in" the lowerend of the sleeve, power means within the sleeve to lift the entire weight of the iron connected to the shank,

and'means acting between the'shank andlthesleeve to hold the shank elevated.

3. The herein described support for presser irons comprising an overhead rail, a trolley movable thereon, a sleeve connected to the trolley, a shank movable up and down in the lower endof the sleeve, and an electromagnet within the sleeve serving to lift the entire weight of the shank-and ironi1 attached thereto, substantially as set f0r-t.-

ssing the.commissioner. of-Ratents, v

MosI-iEH EPSTEIN; 

